Boris Becker, the retired German tennis star and six-time Grand Slam champion, has admitted that a poker debt during his time in prison left him fearing for his safety. The 57-year-old, who was sentenced in 2022 to more than two years behind bars in the United Kingdom, revealed that he had to rely on a friend outside the prison walls to settle what he owed to violent inmates.
From Wimbledon Champion to Poker Professional
Becker ended his tennis career in 1999 after winning three Wimbledon titles and achieving global fame. Following retirement, he immersed himself in poker, recording $111,000 in live tournament earnings and participating in major international events. He also served as a brand ambassador for several years, further cementing his presence in the poker community.
Legal Troubles and Imprisonment
Becker had faced legal issues before. In 2002, a court in Germany convicted him of making false statements about his residency on tax filings, a move that had saved him more than €1,000,000. He avoided prison at the time by paying a fine.
His most serious case came in April 2022, when a London court sentenced him to 30 months for failing to hand over assets valued at £2,500,000 during bankruptcy proceedings. Becker ultimately served 8 months before being released, but he later revealed that prison poker games nearly led to disaster.
Becker’s Prison Poker Games
Promoting his memoir, Becker told German media outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung that he made a poor choice in continuing to play poker behind bars.
“I had played poker professionally after tennis, so I thought, what could go wrong? But I was playing with real criminals, who came into my cell and threatened me if I didn’t pay,” Becker said.
According to Becker, he ran up a debt of £500 to inmates he referred to as “Romanian criminals.” While modest compared to high-stakes poker sums, inside prison the money carried weight. “These were people who came into your cell and slapped you across the face,” he recalled. Unable to cover the debt himself, Becker contacted a friend to send funds so he could pay what he owed. “If I hadn’t paid, my life would have been in danger,” he admitted.
Mental and Emotional Aftermath
Although Becker regained his freedom after 8 months, he confessed that prison life continues to haunt him.
“You’ll never completely shake that time. In bed, I lie so close to the edge that I almost fall out. When I sleep, even the largest mattress turns into a narrow cot. I’m not a psychologist, so I can only say that things were different before prison,” he said.
Moving Forward
Becker now resides in Italy, where he continues to engage with the poker community and rebuild his personal life. The father of four is expecting his fifth child, his first with his wife, political risk analyst Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro. The couple appeared at the Sport-Bild Awards in Hamburg last month, a sign that Becker is looking ahead despite the scars of his time behind bars.
